Baltimore unveils "Repave Baltimore" plan to modernize resurfacing amid funding and staffing gaps

Veronica McBth, director of Baltimore City Department of Transportation, told the Land Use and Transportation Committee on April 2 that the department is replacing its old "Orange Cone" list with a managed program called Repave Baltimore to align resurfacing projects to funding, modernize procurement and publish up-to-date pavement-condition data.

McBth said the city missed roughly $900 million in Highway User Revenue during the recession, a shortfall she described as equivalent to nearly 3,000 lane miles of resurfacing in a city of about 5,200 roadway miles. "We need an estimated $50 million annually in capital resurfacing funds to maintain our roads," McBth said, adding that allocations have historically been under $10 million per year and that Mayor Scott had allocated more than $30 million in fiscal 2025 and 2026 to accelerate work.

Why it matters: DOT said the previous list functioned as a static inventory disconnected from funding and delivery; Repave Baltimore will be a program-based model that sequences work by available capital, unbundles large contracts to expand contractor participation, and integrates performance metrics and community engagement. McBth said the city has retained Cyclomedia to update its Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and expects a fully synthesized PCI by fall 2026 that will be visible on the Repave Baltimore website.

During the presentation and follow-up questioning,…